Brush of the push broom type



11153; W, 3951 A; L. LE FEBVRE 256L026 BRUSH OF THE PUSH BROOM TYPE Filed Dec. 7, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOI' ALFRED L. LEFL BVRE AT ORNEY Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED snares TNT OFFICE BRUSH OF THE PUSH BROOM TYPE Alfred L. Le Febvre, Windsor, Conn., assignor to The Fuller Brush Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application December 7, 1946, Serial No. 714,681

8 Claims.

lhe invention relates more particularly to the handle construction of a brush, and while the invention is not necessarily so limited, it is particularly adapted for use in a brush of the push broom type.

One object of the invention is to provide a brush of the push broom type having a pivoted handle and having improved means operable by rotation of the handle for locking the handle in any one of a plurality of positions of pivotal adjustment with respect to the base.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brush of the push broom type having a handle pivoted thereto and having a brace pivoted for relative movement with the handle and serving to prevent deflections of the handle in the direction of its pivotal axis.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a brush having a wooden handle and having improved means for securing the handle in place.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the drawings and from the following specification and claims.

In the drawings I have shown in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction shown, and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a side view of a brush embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view of the blank for forming the,

ferrule which holds the wooden handle.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the ferrule as it appears prior to its assembly with the handle.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the ferrule as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line l'! of Fig. 5 but showing the ferrule engaged with the wooden handle.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1 to 3 thereof, Ill is the base of the brush which is normally horizontal. Secured to the base Ill and projecting downwardly therefrom are suitable bristles. While the present invention is not so limited, the base l0 and the means for securing the bristles thereto may be in accordance with 2 the disclosure in my copending application for Brush, Serial No. 675,236, flled June 7, 1946, of which this present application is a continuationin-part. Reference is made to the said copending application for any details not herein fully disclosed.

The base I!) comprises a single piece of extruded material, ordinarily metal, the base being of uniform cross section throughout. The base may be varied in length as required. The base H3 is provided, preferably immediately adjacent its sides, with two longitudinal open-bottom grooves l2, l2 which are open at their ends. The grooves are narrowest adjacent their open bottoms and the side walls of the grooves converge downwardly toward the said narrowest portions. As shown, the grooves l2, l2 are formed between downward extending longitudinal flanges M, It and I6, I6. The inner face of each flange M is vertical and the outer face of each flange It is inclined.

Preferably, for a purpose to be presently stated, the inner faces of the flanges l6, l6 which face toward the center are inclined so as to converge downwardly. To conserve material the bottom edges of the flanges l6, l8 may be provided with longitudinal grooves l3, IS.

The base I0 is preferably provided at the center with a longitudinal open-bottom groove 2t which is open at its ends. The groove is narrowest adjacent its open bottom and the side walls of the groove converge downwardly toward the said narrowest portion. As shown, the groove 20 is formed between downward extending longitudinal flanges 22, 22, the inner faces of which converge downwardly.

The brush includes a plurality of brush strips, portions of which are engaged with the grooves l2, l2 and with the groove 20 when such groove is provided. Each brush strip comprises a metallic member 24 which constitutes the holder for the bristles 26 of the strip, the said member being bent so that it is U-shaped in cross section and constitutes a channel, the bristles 26 being doubled within the U-shaped holder or channel member and being held by the walls of the member and by a central core wire 28. In the manufacture of the brush the required brush strips are cut to length from previously formed longer strips. It will be understood that the term bristles as herein used is intended to be generic and to include bristles or fibers of any kind suitable for use in brush manufacture.

Entered endwise in the grooves l2, l2 are brush strip portions 38 and 32, the holders 24 of the said strip portions engaging the converging side walls of the grooves above the narrow bottoms thereof so that the brush strips are firmly held against relative downward movement. The sizes of the holders 24 and of the grooves are so related that considerable force is required for the endwisejnsertionof the holders in the. grooves. The resultant friction is sufficient to prevent any accidental or unintended removal of the holders from the grooves. Preferably the two strip por tions 35 and 32 are connected by means of an integral end portion (not shown); .Preferably strip portions such as Sfl and tZ together with their connecting end portions,. are insertedinthe grooves l2, H in the base from both ends thereof..,-.

In order that there may be a larger body of bristles at the ends of the brush I preferably provide at each end a supplemental brush strip which is bent to provide a connecting end portion (not shown) andtwo parallel portions), 40. The spacing between thetwo brush strip portions 150,40 is such that the holdersofthesaid portions canbe firmly engaged witrrthedownwardlyconverging facesof theflanges, l6,"l5, as shown in Fig. 2. V When a central groovesuch as. 20 is provided, brush strip portions ar inserted ,therein in the manner already described in connection; with the us st orti ns. and'S e rab y there are two. brush, strip portions; 42,142 which are -insert i -t eer o e fro o pos e ends .there v. n or rto, c ver- ,the ends the 'ba ea -t P r s orthe .bru h... ri w ic p o e t b nd t e den two. and ga s a e p vi The details of these end .caps are fully set forth in sa d o ndi appl ca i n a dne s n m crib d. s th y. n t nstitute a .Part of hen ese tmventio The base in is preferably provided with acent tran ve e l t- 6 .w s .onen t. thet p and. which ,qomm nieat s, wi h. th gr ove; 2

The walls of ,thegroove 231 are cut .away at the s roove. Ahand o ii ..m mbe 8 .ex-

ten s t plie t lot fi andp r onso thes member are seated the groove, 29.. between the inn re s fl lb i s sirips 42P the groov efe a lt portio s f t e-mem .48 ,Whichareseated in thegroove are pivot.yelet flllheo. whichenablethe embe tomov pivotally in .the .slot. A5. about the longitudinal pivotal axis of the said elements; A hand1e ,52 is provided, preferably formed of Woo ithisloeil connected. with the .handleho1dingrn Preferably and as shown, the. hand e ,-h.oldins member 48 is. threaded at ,its. uppenend ,and..the handle is provided with a threadedbottommem- .ber ,54 at its .lower end which receives thethreaded upper portionof. the .memberJiB. Carried by the base. I ll is abrackettt which maybe, secured ,tothebase .by. spot weldin The bracket 56..h as an arcuate or, convex face ft whichiscomentric withthe .axis of; the..-pivot elements ,50,. 5ll,ian'd it has aslot Blithrough whichthe-memberj, 68.,extends, the, said. .slot'. being, in register with -the slot .46 in the base. When the handleisloosely engaged, itcanbeadjusted toany relative angu- .1 ar.. position withinthe limits. of the. slot 60, .and .by ,thenturning the handle about, its-own 4 axis the threaded engagement ofv the ,memberjdwith the,member.43 forces the saidmem-ber .JEA-into clamping engagement with thenonvex -face 58 0f the bracket to lock the handle in its adjusted ..posi tion.

Preferably the convex upper face 58 of the .infact a portion of asphere. The bottom face of the bottom member 541s similarly curved and is in fact a portion of a sphere.

The provision of the said mating spherical faces provides a surface contact between them which is in contrast with theline contact which would be provided if 4 ,the face 58 werecurved only transversely and if .-the. bottomface; of the member 54 were flat.

. ,II he.bott-om.member 54 of the handle 52 is secured to the handle by means of a ferrule 62, the

1 detailsofwhich-are shown in Figs. 4 to '7. For

ember... 4.

formingthe ferrule 62 a sheet metal blank 54 is provided, as shown in Fig. 4. Slots 66, 66 are provided at the ends of theblank which divide it into. upper and lower. portions; The ends of the upper portion are. notched atfifijfia to provvide teeth ID 10. The blankifil is bent to a generally cylindrical shape, as shownin' Figs. 5 and 6. Th lower portion of .theblank. forms a complete cylinder with the ends abutting, as shown, but the upper portion forms only anincomplete cylinder with the end portions extending tangentially as. shown'in' Fig: 6;. The teeth""|0,10'are bent inward at right angles to "-the tangential portions as shown. 7

The cylindrical lower portion'of' th'e'blank is of such diameter as to receive andfit the bottom member54 and this-member is inserted andsecured in place by welding, as 'indicatedflThe diameter of the partly cylindrical upper portion, as shownin Fig. 6, is such as. to fit the bottom portionof the wooden1ha'ndlet52. After the bottom memberfi has been welded inplace' the handle is inserted and then' the tangential portionsof thev ferruIe as shown in Fig. 6, are 'bent inwardto conform. to the curvature oftheihandle, the teeth Ill being forced'into'the handle as indicated, in Fig. '7. It will be seen' that the teeth .10, by reasoniofqbeing imbedded in the handle, serveoto securely connect'the handle with the ferrule thus positively preventing removal thereof. The bottom member 54 servesnot only as a .means of connection With'the handle holding 'member;48,,. as. already described, but it also serves to prevent theferrule fromopening'to release the handle. It will be seen that, if the .member .54 were not provided and welded in place as shown, there would be a tendency for th ferrule to open up. -duringuse and fonthe teeth 10, l0 to. ,gradually work out from. their imbedded, positions. Anysuch opening 'ofithe ferrule is definitelyipreventedby reason of the fact. thatit is .weldedtov themember .54.

Preferably. a brace ,l2is provided which engages .the handlev and serves. to .reenforceithe hinge connection at;50. 50. As showm hebr c .12. is asinglezpiec of heavy wire which is bent to form a loop 74 embracing the handle at a position substantially .above. the hinge connection at 50, .50 and. substantially.- above the. bracket'.56. This loop permits thejhandle to be turned in the manner already described for'clamping and. unclamping. Theends of. thebrace 12 extend diagonally, downwardly .and outwardly and are then bent .to. form horizontal. trunnions '16," '15.

These trunnions are. entered in aperturesformed .in ears .18, J8- bent upwardlyfrom a plates!) secured by spot w eldinglor otherwisetof-thetop of the base 10. The plate has a transverse slot which registers with the transverse slot 46 in the base, and the arched portion of the bracket 56 extends over the plate 80. The plate extends longitudinally at both sides of the bracket, the said ears 18, 18 being at the ends of the plate. The axis of the trunnions 16, 16 is somewhat above the axis of the handle at 50, 50 but the loop 14 can move slightly vertically on the handle to compensate for this lack of alignment of the two axes.

It will be seen that the brace 12 moves pivotally with the handle when the handle is adjusted and it serves to reenforce the hinge connection at 50, 50 and to prevent any longitudinal deflection of the handle relatively t the brace.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a brush of the push broom type, the combination of a normally horizontal brush base having a transverse slot therein, bristles secured to the base and extendin downward therefrom, a bracket secured to the base at the top thereof and having a convex upper face which is concentric with a longitudinal horizontal axis located below the slotted portion of the base and which is also concentric with a transverse axis intersecting the said longitudinal axis, the said bracket also having a transverse slot therein which is in register with the said slot in the base, a handle holding member extending through both of the said slots and pivoted at its lower end to the base independently of the bracket for movement about the aforesaid horizontal axis, the upper end portion of the said member being threaded and being movable through the slot in the bracket, and a handle having a lower end element provided with a concave bottom face shaped to fit the convex upper face of the bracket and provided with a longitudinal threaded hole for receiving the threaded upper end portion of the holding member, the said lower end element of the handle being engageable with the convex face of the bracket and being adapted to be clamped thereto or released therefrom upon rotation of the handle relatively to the holding member.

2. In a brush of the push broom type, the combination of a normally horizontal brush base, bristles secured to the base and extending downward therefrom, a handle, a, hinge connection between the lower end of the handle and the base permitting relative movement of the handle about a longitudinal axis, a handle brace comprising a single wire formed at the center with a loop surrounding the handl substantially above the hinge connection, the said loop permittin relative movement of the brac longitudinally of the handle, means for hinging the ends of the brace to the base for movement with the handle about a longitudinal axis above the first said axis, the last said means enabling the brace to reenforce the hinge connection for the handle and prevent longitudinal deflection of the handle relatively to the base, and means independent of the bracket serving upon rotation of the handle about its own axis to lock the handle in any one of a plurality of positions with respect to the base.

3. In a brush of the push broom type, the combination of a normally horizontal brush base, bristles secured to the base and extending downward therefrom, a bracket secured to the base at th top thereof and having a convex upper face which is concentric with a longitudinal axis and also having a transverse slot therein, a handle holding member threaded at its upper end and pivoted at its lower end to the base independently of the bracket for movement about the aforesaid longitudinal axis, the threaded upper end portion of the said member extending through the slot in the bracket and being movable therein, a handle having a lower end element having a longitudinal threaded hole for receiving the threaded upper end portion of the holding member, the said lower end element of the handle being engageable with the convex face of the bracket and being adapted to be clamped thereto or released therefrom upon rotation of the handle relatively to the holding member, and a handle brace pivoted to the base independently of the handle holding member for movement about a longitudinal axis, the said brace engaging the handle substantially above the bracket and in a manner permitting rotation of the handle and th said brace serving to prevent longitudinal deflection of the handle relatively to the base.

4. In a brush of the push broom type, the combination of a normally horizontal brush base, bristles secured to the base and extending downward therefrom, a bracket secured to the base at the top thereof and having a convex upper face which is concentric with a longitudinal axis and also having a transverse slot therein, a handle holding member threaded at its upper end and pivoted at its lower end to the base independently of the bracket for movement about the aforesaid longitudinal axis, the threaded upper end portion of the said member extending through the slot in the bracket and being movable therein, a round handl having a lower end element having a longitudinal threaded hole for receiving the threaded upper end portion of the holding member, the said lower end element of the handle being engageable with the convex face of the bracket and being adapted to be clamped thereto or released therefrom upon rotation of the handle relatively to the holding member, and a handle brace comprising a single wire formed at the center with a loop surrounding the handle substantially above the bracket, and means for hinging the ends of the brace to the base for movement with the handle about a longitudinal axis, the last said means enabling the brace to prevent longitudinal deflection of the handle relatively to the base.

5. In a brush of the push broom type, the combination of a normally horizontal brush base having a transverse slot therein, bristles secured to the base and extending downward therefrom, an arched bracket secured to the base at the top thereof and having a convex upper face which is concentric with a longitudinal horizontal axis located below the slotted portion of the base, the said bracket also having a transverse slot therein which is in register with the said slot in the base, a handle holding member extending through both of the said slots and pivoted at its lower end to the base independently of the bracket for movement about the aforesaid horizontal axis, the upper end portion of the said member being movable through the slot in the bracket, a movable handle connected with the handle holding member, a plate secured to the top of the base within the arched portion of the bracket and extending longitudinally at both sides of the bracket, the said plate having a transverse slot in register with the slot in the base, and a handle brace pivoted to the said base near the ends thereof and at opposite sides of the bracket, the said brace engaging the handle substantially above the' bra'cliet and serving to' prevent"ldngitudinal deflection-of the handle relatively to the base.

' 6. The combi'nation in a brush, of a brush base, bristlessecured to the base and projecting therefrom, a handleholding member connected with the base and'threaded atits upper end; a wooden handle, a ferrule comprising a strip of metal-bent to surround the lower end portion of the handle and having teeth at-its 'end'porticns which are bent inward and em' bedded the handle, and ametallic member at thebottomof thehandle weldedto the lowerend "of the' ferrule'andservingto prevent the ferrule -f-romopening to release the handle, the-last said member having acentral threaded aperture for 'receiving the threadedportion 0f-the-holding end portions-Which are-bent inward and embedded in the handle, the said ferrule being so positionedas to project below the said-lower end portion of the handle, and a metallicmember at the bottom" of the handle fitting 'within' and welded to the projecting lower "end-ofthe ferrule and serving to prevent the ferrule from opening to release the 'ha'ndlegthe last said member having a central threaded aperture for receiving 'the threaded portion of the holding member.

8-.'The combination in a brush as setforth-in claim 7, wherein the stripconstituting the ferrule has an upper portion-the ends of which are bent inward and embedded in the handle and-has a lower portion'the-ends of which abut to form a complete enclosure for the threaded metallic element.

- ALFREDL. LEFEBVRE.

REFERENCES CITED The "following references are of reoord'in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 426,213 Quigg Apr. 23,1890 476,060 Myers May 1,-1892 744,558 Kelly Nov, 17-, 1903 25 1,134,076 I-Iipk-ins Mar. 30, 1915 1,862,404 Jayne June 7; 1932 

